Small step to deal with past crimes against LGBTQIA people.
The German parliament voted in favor of the rehabilitation and compensation of soldiers who have faced discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation. This was earlier reported by JURIST.
Germany’s defense minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, was quoted as saying that they had a duty to support individuals who were discriminated; and that this move shows that the German army is now more open and tolerant.
Until 2000, members of the LGBTQIA community were not eligible to be superior officers in Germany, which had a military policy that held that gay soldiers posed a threat to discipline. Not surprisingly, gay soldiers were denied promotions, discharged from service, and even face criminal conviction because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
It is still worth noting that the new law does not address all forms of discrimination that has taken place, only covering discrimination that happened before July 3, 2000. But with the new law, soldiers who were discriminated against may now have their convictions expunged from the record, as well as receive some (token) financial compensation. €6 million will be set aside for this.
